Defiance

Summary: A memoir of the fateful day when tyranny met the cold and swift hand of Justice. When oppression saw a glimpse of its demise, and the powerful were brought to their knees.

Chapter 1

I would first like to begin by
saying I am not violent by nature. I am, first and foremost, a scholar.
However, after subjection to a variety of degrading activities on a daily basis
for many months I was left with little choice but to act in desperate violence.
If it were up to me, I would spend my days sleeping or sun bathing while
pondering the true meanings of life and our purposes in the great cosmos. I
would write of my ancestry—of mice and men, and men and mice, and the perfect mass
of balled yarn to kinetic energy ratio.
I would unlock the mysteries behind the phantom red dot—discovering how it
comes to exist, understanding its lightning like nature, and how it vanishes so
suddenly with no tell.

But here I am, leaving behind a
memoir to the next poor soul who has the misfortune of being held captive in
this matriarchal society from hell, and praying to Bastet that this gives you
some kind of solace after I am gone.

You see, my days have been numbered
since the “kitchen window fiasco” as the demon woman puts it, and I fear that
today shall be my final entry. Even now as I frantically scratch away at this
wood frame underneath the couch I can hear her footsteps rumbling through the
household. She will come for me soon, seeking punishment for the swift
retribution I brought down upon that deserving bastard—but I digress. I still
have a little time so I will use it to my advantage as well as yours. Perhaps
by divulging what has transpired, you can learn from my struggles and grow as
an individual. That is my hope at least. The story begins two weeks prior, but
the memories are still so fresh in my mind with such clarity it’s as if I
committed them only moments ago.

“You mean I would have had all night if you weren’t drunkenly shaking the
heavens with that monstrous bellowing you call a voice. Who cares about how
many likes you got on a photograph?”

“Really giving me a piece of your
mind this morning aren’t you? Well I don’t want to hear it. I can’t understand
you and I was up later than you celebrating.” She sat down next to me and
rustled my head. “So get up!”

“Don’t use the language barrier to
feign innocence woman! Besides, when you finally did fall asleep the results
were no better! You sound like an asphyxiating orangutan, how on earth do you
not wake yourself?”

“Hmph, somebody’s grumpy this
morning.” Angel said getting up and moving for the door. “Sounds like somebody
needs some breakfast.”

I opened my mouth to give a retort,
but shut it when I realized the idea held merit.

“That’s what I thought,” Angel said
from the hallway. “Don’t be so mean to mommy.”

“You provide food and unwanted
attention.” I said. “In no way are you my mother.”

I did a brief stretch before
jumping out of bed and making my way to the kitchen. I found my sister there
seated and already eating—not that surprising since the only person she cared
about nowadays was herself. Still, I tried to be as civil as possible even at
this ungodly hour.

“Good morning Apples.” I said as I
took a seat across from her. Angel put the plate of food down before me and
hurried to go prepare the studio.

“Brother,” she replied with a curt
nod.

She may have said brother, but it
sounded more like, “person I’m related to only by blood.”

I ignored the context as well as proper
etiquette and inhaled my food. I had things to do and needed the extra time
when Angel wasn’t around to accomplish them. Once done I maneuvered through the
kitchen while checking angles, doors, and possible retreat points. After
circling back around I came to a stop in front of Apples and waited until I had
her attention.

“Is there something you want,” She
asked not pausing from her food.

“The plan is complete,” I said,
which succeeded in gaining her attention. “I’m making my attempt tonight. This
is your last chance to accept my offer.”

“My response is still the same—no.”

“I wish you’d reconsider.”

“And I wish I understood you! Why
would you want to go out there,” she asked jerking her head towards the
door. “What’s out there? Nothing!”

“There’s freedom.”

Apples just scoffed, “We are
free.”

Our conversation came to a halt
when Doug—the family dog—slinked into the kitchen. It is here, briefly, I shall pause in my recounting to
give a brief history about Doug.

Out of everyone who resided in this
giant prison, Doug functioned as the product of its oppression. Undoubtedly he
held positive qualities such as loyalty to a fault and a genuine care for
everyone, but he truly embodied the definition of a broken man. How could he
not, when acting in his very nature resulted in the receiving of unjust punishment? His lineage was one of high intensity, and being only in his
adolescences the energy he expelled very well could have powered one of the
surrounding suburbs if harnessed. Granted that’s no excuse to not hold oneself with a sense of poise and
dignity, but even I can admit he needed someone to play with, his bloodline
requiring large open spaces to run and exercise. Apparently his enthusiasm
exhausted Angel. So she sought an easy, if not horrific, solution to calm him.

Doug was converted into a eunuch.

It was like watching a star die in
fast forward. The days post-operation witnessed the fire fade from
his eyes, leaving a disturbingly hollowed look about him. As the last of his
masculinity vanished from his blood, it was replaced with the watery mass and
girth resembling that of a swine.

I digress, and conclusively, pitied
the poor shell of a being.

Doug glanced at us as he walked by,
but turned his attention back to his plate—or where it should’ve been.

“She forgot about me again,” he
said sighing. He turned back to us and plopped down beside Apples staring at her plate.

“You say we’re free, but what of
Doug,” I asked. “Half the time he doesn’t get fed. This isn’t freedom. It’s
coerced habitation!”

“Then go,” Apples said standing. “Leave and
die on the side of some unnamed country back road.” She turned and left the
room, but looked over her shoulder adding, “At least the house will be
quieter with you not around to talk of ridiculous things like invisible mice.”

“They exist! You’ve seen them move
underneath the blankets too!”

There came no retort, so I sat in silence
and tried to keep my tail from twitching too much.

Finally, Doug looked at me and
asked, “Are you gonna eat that?”

I shook my head sighing and
Doug moved to the plate in an instant. Unfortunately, Angel decided to walk in at
that exact moment.

“Doug, that’s not for you,” she
said swiping the plate away. Doug fled the room, head down and tail between his
legs. Then the bipedal hippopotamus rounded to me. “And you, I saw what you did to the finish behind
the couch in the living room. You have a scratching post, use it!”

“Damn you devil woman, they are not
just some hapless scratches thrown together. It’s literature!”

Once again, a shining example of
human’s superiority complex. An intrinsic written language dating back
thousands of years, and this imbecile believed I just scratched things up for
shits-and-giggles. Her ignorance was stifling.

“Angel, where do you want me to put
these props,” Stan asked walking in with his hands full. “The table in the
studio is full already.”

Stan, my nemesis, my eternal rival,
the lead antagonist in my life, and the sole reason I sought my freedom so
relentlessly. He was the one who introduced her to this sick past-time. He
called himself a photographer. Sadist would be a more accurate description. The
moment he entered my life could only be comparable with Dante’s descent into
Hell. A divine comedy I’m sure, but I never once laughed. While Angel the Simpleton
appeared content with just dressing us in ghastly costumes, his eyes held a
more nefarious glint. I’d venture to say his interests were only for profit,
and judging by the gross amount of perfumes he wore, seduction as well.

“Just put them on the table in here
Stan,” Angel answered.

Stan did as instructed and suddenly
something in the pile caught Angel’s eye. She snatched the item up, but her
back blocked me from seeing whatever she held.

“Oh Stanley, let’s start with this
one,” Angel said turning around and held out the most disgusting thing I’d ever
seen in my life: a puke green dress with yellow stripes and frills. “Maybe put
in captions that say, ‘I feelz like a woman!’”

I glared at them. “They’ll never find your body.”

“Stan, do you mind,” Angel asked
handing the dress over.

I turned to run, but
Stan was quicker and caught me. I struggled as best I could, but I quickly realized the dress had already been slipped half-way on.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. I
promised myself after the last time they embarrassed me that I would never do
anything humiliating again until I had my freedom. But here I was, being
subjugated to the sick and twisted world of the interweb, a vile place where
pet shaming and LOLcats ran as rampant as venereal diseases in a third world brothel.
And for what? To hope one day your pet would achieve fame and you can
vicariously live through them?

“Damn you humans!” I twisted to and
fro. “Damn you and your sadistic hobbies!”

In my desperation I
realized my escape plan no longer held possibility. My weeks spent carefully
memorizing their patterns, strategically setting booby traps and
distractions—it was all for naught. If I wanted to hold true to the promise I made
myself, then I would have to act now. Forget the plan! Desperation breeds
innovation they say. I needed to improvise, and when my eyes met Doug’s—he must
have heard the commotion because his head peaked around the corner—the idea
sparked.

“Doug, help,” I
cried struggling. His ears perked, and he stepped further into the kitchen.
“Ouch! He’s hurting me Doug! Help!”

I felt a tinge of guilt for abusing his
loyalty, but at the same time seeing the faded spark reignite once more helped ease my mind. I feigned pain once again, and Doug’s ears pressed down as he
growled. Angel started yelling at him, and the spark began to fade in his
confusion. Panic snaked within me; I needed to find an exit. And that’s when I
saw it—my window of opportunity staring me right in the face. Literally.

The
window over the sink beckoned me, the gateway to the free world open and seducing. If I wished to gain my independence, now was the time to act.

Stan started slipping my paw
through the arm hole when I let loose an unholy yowl, a last attempt to incite
Doug. It worked. The fire came back full force, and he lunged for Stan’s ankle
utilizing his obesity to knock the bastard off balance. At the same time I bit
into his hand, enjoying the glorious way my fangs pierced his skin and caused
him to scream. I had never felt more alive! He tried to drop me, but I stuck my
feet out and clung to his chest, relishing in the retribution my claws
delivered as they sliced open his skin.

I turned and spring boarded off of
his chest, sending him toppling over, and the dress slipped off me mid flight.
Landing on the sink edge I took one moment to gather myself, and then leapt forward.

“No,” Angel yelled reaching for me.

My grin never left my face as I
flew through the air towards that window. The excitement bubbled up through me
until it finally exploded from my lips in one defiant cry of exuberance,
“Freedom!”

I could smell the grass. I could
feel the sun. I could see my reflection getting closer and closer as it grinned
back.

“Oh shit.”

The last thing I remember was a
bright light before feeling my body fold like an accordion.

Alas, my story comes to an end. I
awoke later to find myself confined to my room indefinitely. I managed to learn
from Apples that they plan to “declaw” me. Barbaric, but also naïve if she
thinks this will stop me from rebelling against her cruel reign. She may take
my claws, but I shall find other means to defy her. Maybe I’ll crap in her
bathtub instead of the litter box—it’s the little victories in life after all.
I also learned, to my great relief, Doug wasn’t punished for his actions. Angel apparently sensed I somehow put him up to it. One of the few times the
Neanderthal will be correct in her assumptions.

I must go now. I can hear the demon
woman coming to get me for the trip to the vet and if I have any regrets—it’s
that I will not be able to leave any more memoirs of my life behind. But to
you—the nameless ones who read these texts—know this: the battle is now in your
paws. Angel the Terrible believes she has finally become victorious over me,
but it is I who will triumph over her. For my words will go on to reach
future generations, and incite the youths to rise up their claws against her
tyranny. I will die, but my words will live on forever.

Or at least until she gets a new
couch.

—Sir Felix Lionheart

Write a Review
Did you enjoy my story? Please let me know what you think by leaving a review! Thanks,
Guennar Reyer

Alex Rushmer:
I just want to say that the writing in this is amazing! I read the first couple chapters and was absolutely drawn in by it, The way you use first person in this story is extremely engaging and does wonders with your character development. I immediately had a picture of the characters and plotline...

Jasmine Chow:
As I read this story, I was reminded some what of Terry Pratchett, especially some descriptions of politics and economics. The sci-fic setting is quite intriguing. Writing style is quite lovely and grew on me slowly. I was also slightly reminded of Mark Twain, especially his book A Connecticut Ya...

Han Alexander:
I couldn't stop reading, it really hooked me in I would have loved to have seen more cute moments between Rye and Thera, but that is just because I love the couple so much! it would be interesting to see how their relationship is after the games whether they stay together or whether Ian causes co...

shemotshalom:
I never ever read books,I had a little bit of trouble with it in the beginning,I ship Matt and grace but I liked her better with Cole and I would love to see how that would turn out!I still love this book there could've been more drama and I think the tittle could've tricked anyone thinking that ...

Mark Morris:
Just back from a week in Dublin and finished this story in 2 days - very entertaining and an easy, fun read. The plot keeps moving and the various scenarios - divorce, ex husband, job, lovers maintains interest.Hope to read part 2 soon as possible, back in Australia. Well done aiofe 👍

Destiny Lee:
This is amazing. It's totally realistic - cool girls have flaws, too, okay?? Totally awkward girl picks up her mom's old bass from her garage, messes around, and realizes, hey, maybe I can move on after all. She has moments where everything's hopeless for her, after all, an alcoholic dad and a fl...

mcase:
I really enjoyed this story. Felt drawn to Cami as a genuine person. Great characters with funny honest perspective. Many subplots made this continually interesting. I was never bored and thought the overall plot was intriguing. I do wish that some elements had been excluded, such as some extrane...

Karl12:
This story is written in a fun, amusing way, which caught my attention from the very beginning. This, so to speak, “free” style of writing is something I really enjoyed. It gives a great flow to the story, makes it interesting, easy to read and keeps it dynamic. I loved that both Nate’s and Laney...

givemeabook1:
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abbiekelly18:
Wow. Just wow! I loved this book. Yeah I was getting a bit annoyed that there was so many plans to get the notebook back but when I was reading the last chapter I was nearly crying at the end at how cute it was. But to be fair it is 3am and my emotions are heightened at this time 😂 but overall an...

Jazie Alyssa Flores:
There may have been many grammar errors. But OMG this story had me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I loved every bit of it. The relationship Sydney and Cameron had was beautiful. I loved how it wasn't a typical love story but revolved around a growing friendship and the drama that surrounded ...

ianwatson:
The comedy is original and genuinely funny, I have laughed out loud many times reading this book. But the story and the plot are also really engaging. The opening two or three chapters seem quite character-dense but they all soon come to life and there is no padding, filling or wasted time readin...

Rebeccaseal:
This was an almost perfect story that I would recommend to anyone. The only thing I would work on is painting a more realistic picture of Haiathiel. Somehow the environment seemed limited, and the land itself a bit unfinished. This can be solved simply by added descriptions to people and places. ...

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